ANVIL GOES TO THE OSCARS

Anvil Business Club. Adorned with an Academy Awards-themed motif, the organization's final major activity that marked the culmination of the year 2015 – and the grand finale of a dazzling two-year term for yours truly – had all the ostentatious trappings of Hollywood: the red carpet fashion, the klieg lights, the glitz and glamour, right down to the Oscar statuette.
This could very well be the most ambitious Christmas Party ever staged in the history of the
Sparing no expense to ensure a perfect performance, the star-studded affair was – quite simply – the most memorable spectacle ever orchestrated in recent memory.
Set against the amber-colored backdrop of modern cosmopolitan opulence which Buddha-Bar Manila is known for, members and their partners – most of whom arrived in their dapper, “black-tie” best flannel suits and sartorially-bewitching evening gowns – were individually ushered to their seats, after being accorded the “red carpet-style” registration at the corridor, upon which they were asked to fill up voting cards for several awards categories to be announced later in the evening.
The event’s celebratory mood began when Committee members were formally introduced via a specially-produced music video that played to the music of Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood,” and thrilled the audience with a rousing “ANVILeivable” dance number, complete with Roaring Twenties-style flapper cocktail dresses and sequin paisley-fringe Gatsby costumes for the ladies; while pinstripe suits with suspenders and fedoras were donned by the men.
In-between performances by noted vocalist Katrina Escolar, crooner Jayson Alexander Kiong, as well as expressionist dance numbers by “Valerie and Angela,” lucky guests were awarded much-coveted prizes such as dental packs, coffeemakers, 3D pens, home cameras, and the grand prize: an “SYM" motorcycle.
Anvil members Edward Kirby Co, Jardin Wong, Kevin Ong Tai and Jayson Sze even threw in an impromptu F4 classic number “Jue Bu Neng Shi Qu Ni” (絕不能失去你) for good measure to the delight of the audience.
The highlight of the evening was, of course, the awards for the evening’s categories, which were based on the highest number of vote cards received by the title-holder. The night's winners were:
Ms. Congeniality: Melany Gale Sy, Lauren Chua, Erika Rellera, and Jenzel Chua
Mr. Congeniality: Jardin Wong, Yohan Sy, Harvey Uy, Richmond Co
Comedian of the Year: Chester So, Winny Yu, Alexander Martos
Ms. Anvil: Bettina Reyes, Ian Cheng, Jenzel Chua, Val Ang, Therese Pua
Mr. Anvil: Christopher Yae, Richmond Co, Eckhart Ang, Chester So, Johnny Uy
Belle of the Ball: Jaycel Shih
Dashing Gent of the Night: Yohann Sy
Best Dressed: Christine Dara Ko
Cutest Couple: Rudy Ngo and Antoinette Nisce
The evening also gave Mr. Reginald Yu the opportunity to recognize the efforts of all Project Committee Chairpersons whose leadership made a difference in raising the bar of excellence in their respective programs: Valerie Ang (Anvaya Team-Building Session), Chester So (Sportsfest), Therese Pua (Mooncake Festival Fellowship), Christopher Yae (Japan Goodwill Mission), Erika Rellera (Calumpit Relief Mission), Ian Cheng (Go Kart Competition), and YanFang Zhu (Shootfest).
In a break from tradition, yours truly also handed out a “Presidential Award for Leadership Excellence” to all his board members who served under his two-year term from the Fiscal Years 2014 to 2015, even recognizing Chairman Peter Mangasing and Chairman Emeritus George Siy for their invaluable mentorship and guidance.
Personally, the most memorable part was a surprise tribute video for yours truly, which was painstakingly prepared by Jim Chiu and Sheree Chua. Seeing the Yeoman efforts exerted by these two workhorses to make their President feel really special was especially moving.
And just when the last surprise was supposed to have been disclosed, the entire Committee suddenly brought out a special fruit-laden birthday cake on center-stage while the entire audience sang their most cheerful “Happy Birthday.” Not being used to THAT kind of attention, the emotional outpouring of love and support from the entire membership was simply overwhelming.
Indeed, the first “Anvil Awards Christmas Ball” in 2015 will go down in Club history as a monumentally impressive milestone and a profoundly meaningful affair for yours truly. What makes it doubly astonishing is that it was largely planned and executed by twentysomething Club upstarts who organized every detail of the event from scratch.
Kudos to Project Chair Tin Reyes, as well as the Team composed of Erika Rellera, Melany Gale Sy, Richmond Co, Jim Chiu, Ian Cheng, Zel Chua, Eckhart Ang, Christine Dara Ko, Winny Grace Yu, Alexei Coseto, Hillary Ang and Charmaine Cobankiat. Special thanks go to Director for Fellowship Sheree Chua (who outdid herself by marshaling her sartorial talents in having no less than FOUR wardrobe changes during the program) and Yohann Matthew Sy for their excellent hosting.